Supreme Court denies Kucinich bid to get on Texas primary ballot

Published 6:00 pm, Thursday, January 17, 2008

The court refused to step into a dispute between Kucinich and the Texas Democratic Party over a loyalty oath all candidates must sign to make the ballot.

Kucinich and singer-supporter Willie Nelson objected to the party oath that a presidential candidate must "fully support" the party's eventual nominee. Kucinich crossed out the oath when he filed for a spot on the primary ballot.

A federal judge in Austin ruled against Kucinich last week. U.S. District Judge Lee Yeakel ruled the state party has the right to require the oath. Kucinich and Nelson argued it violated Kucinich's First Amendment right to free speech.

Texas said its deadline is Saturday to print absentee ballots so that they can reach overseas voters in time for the March 4 primary.

The Kucinich campaign said Friday it would return to the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans next week to argue its case that the candidate should be on the March 4 ballot.